Two years. He is very happy for his retirement bonus.
Why are we the team that signs forwards that no other team wants.
2026 recruitment & retention
- Thread starter Disco
- Start date
Two years. He is very happy for his retirement bonus.
Why are we the team that signs forwards that no other team wants.
Yeah but who do you replace all those players with? There’s not just 8-10 quality players hanging around waiting to be signed??
Yep not an AFL fan but Ive got a mate who’s a Richmond Tigers fan, they ran last in 2024.
They drafted ( yeah I know we don’t have that ) the best 8-10 young players , and are playing them this year.
They are getting flogged each week but the kids are improving & learning.
Without a huge benefactor behind the scenes that might be our only choice.
What happened to our cult hero... "Back Fence Brownie"..
He got his 2 year retirement deal. Back to his normal form he showed at other clubs in the last 5 years
KNUCKLES
Bencher
Much the same with the warriors. Halasimi, Laban, Vaimauga, Ale etc
Plus the one that left in maiu
I'd like him to stop with the BFB thing and play a more standard 13 role. I admire his crazy brave runs but he rarely makes any post contact metres and he is a high risk of further injury. They all want to belt him now.
He still has some good ball skills and if he comes on and plays that role, I think he'd be much more effective.
In my opinion, we need to send him (and a couple of others) back to the NSW Cup. Our forward pack is just not working out, and our dysfunctional bench rotation is a massive part of that. Firstly, I think we need to drop Brownie and promote Navale to a bench role as soon as possible. Secondly, Croker needs to be our starting hooker (purely for his defence in the middle), with Tevaga providing cover off the bench, and Simpkin back to NSW Cup. Unfortunately, we don't appear to have any other younger middles that we can immediately bring in to take Sipleys place, or he would be going back to NSW Cup as well. Perhaps the answer is to start him with Aloiai and then bring Jake into the prop rotation after 15/20 minutes, with Navale taking the lock role for the rest of the game. I don't think Burbo is the answer at backrow, but (at this stage) we don't have any obvious candidates to take that spot yet either. Patolo or Pua'Avase perhaps in the future?
This leaves us with a pack for the Dragons that could look like this
Aloiai
Croker
Sipley
Olakau'atu
Burbo
Jurbo
Tevaga
Navale
Bullemore
Taukeiaho
Not particularly inspiring I know, but our much-vaunted depth on paper is looking pretty crappy, when it actually takes the field. We have to do something, though, as our season is slipping away.
In terms of retention for 2026, I think Tevaga, Sipley, and Taukeaiho should all be moved on. As should Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Aitasi James, Dean Matterson, Aaron Schoupp and Ray Vaega. (All off contract)
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Stewbojevic
Bencher
I agree with most of what you’ve said here except I think Taukeaiho has been quite good
I can't disagree with a lot of what you've written. The only think I might balk at is moving on all of those you've mentioned. If TKO can stay fit, I wouldn't mind keeping him for one more year as a bench player and/ or mentor for some of the young forwards that will hopefully come through. I do like the 2 blokes you mentioned based on what I've seen in reserves. And I would expect to see Navale during Origin. And I'm a bit g fan of Ray as a back up player. It's a shame he's just short of a regular 1st grader.
G-land Express
Reserve Grader
The AFL draft system ****s all over ours. With the draft it gives fans hope and they & they get on board with the rebuild. The NRL system seems to be corrupted by backroom manager deals and contracts that seem to count for zero.
maxta
First Grader
Another problem that looks bleak
I watch a fair bit of footy every weekend outside of Manly games
Almost every team, including the worst teams, seem to have some new bloods coming through that have much potential....than I look at Manly and apart from Large and Walsh who are a fair way from top flight footy, we have very lityle
The Navale talk has dimmed, though I think he is reasonable but nothing too flash....though we have a couple of VERY good front rowers and young 9's but again ....s season or 2 away, while every other side seems to have some talent to get excited about we have Vaega, Gordie, Matterson types, with maybe Faulolo the pick and he is again decent, but I doubt many clubs would break out the cheque books to sign him
Anyways ....that's my Sunday roast 😅
I watch a fair bit of footy every weekend outside of Manly games
Almost every team, including the worst teams, seem to have some new bloods coming through that have much potential....than I look at Manly and apart from Large and Walsh who are a fair way from top flight footy, we have very lityle
The Navale talk has dimmed, though I think he is reasonable but nothing too flash....though we have a couple of VERY good front rowers and young 9's but again ....s season or 2 away, while every other side seems to have some talent to get excited about we have Vaega, Gordie, Matterson types, with maybe Faulolo the pick and he is again decent, but I doubt many clubs would break out the cheque books to sign him
Anyways ....that's my Sunday roast 😅
Yeh the current squad is not very well balanced, to much of the cap in the backline and not enough in middle forwards, Laiafi, Pua’avase and Navale on a supplementary contracts, are the only young forward talent to be given deals by the club.
Recruitment wasn’t the best with what they recruited for this season in terms of current forwards in the squad, Mestrov stated after Schuster got the axe that they were going after a quality edge forward, they weren’t successful and I wonder how hard it is to attract players to the club given what Mestrov said.
Plenty of good young forwards out there, got to get Peter Gentle more active in recruiting some.
I agree. Hes been a very good signing for 2025. As has Tevaga, but I think we need to bring a core of younger, dynamic, more mobile forwards into the squad for 2026. In my opinion we cant do that and retain these players as well.
Losing Paseka for the season is up there with one of the worst things that could have happened to us. He is our only big dog prop that makes any imprint. Bully is the other only one who impacts the game though with his speed.
Moving DCE on is the best decision imo so we can give Paseka some support upfront.
Also Burbo can’t be starting as he frustrates the hell out of me. No agility whatsoever leaving us vulnerable on many occasions when defending. Extremely poor ruck control putting us under pressure also often being left on the ground unable to take up his marker position.
The Fogarty signing is a perfect addition for what we need. A steady ship and the ability to build pressure with an outstanding kicking game will really help our squad. Only costing us $500-$600k is extremely effective way to strengthen problem areas
Moving DCE on is the best decision imo so we can give Paseka some support upfront.
Also Burbo can’t be starting as he frustrates the hell out of me. No agility whatsoever leaving us vulnerable on many occasions when defending. Extremely poor ruck control putting us under pressure also often being left on the ground unable to take up his marker position.
The Fogarty signing is a perfect addition for what we need. A steady ship and the ability to build pressure with an outstanding kicking game will really help our squad. Only costing us $500-$600k is extremely effective way to strengthen problem areas
Stewbojevic
Bencher
My point is that we could afford better props with Fogarty in the side.
Occasionally that might work but mostly when those talented young players start getting consistently NRL-ready they get cherry-picked by rival clubs. Happened to Wests for years
It’s such a pity , just imagine how more even the competition would be if the bottom half teams got the best upcoming talent , rather than the top talent just going to the rich clubs.
Yes I guess that happens , but whatever they do the AFL seem to manage that so much better.
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2020 Ladder
| Team | P | W | D | L | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulldogs | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 12 |
| 2 | Storm | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 10 |
| 3 | Broncos | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 8 |
| 4 | Raiders | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 8 |
| 5 | Rabbitohs | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 8 |
| 6 | Warriors | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -20 | 8 |
| 7 | Tigers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 6 |
| 8 | Sea Eagles | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 6 |
| 9 | Sharks | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 6 |
| 10 | Dragons | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 6 |
| 11 | Titans | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -26 | 6 |
| 12 | Knights | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -40 | 6 |
| 13 | Cowboys | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -42 | 6 |
| 14 | Dolphins | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| 15 | Roosters | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -52 | 4 |
| 16 | Panthers | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -38 | 2 |
| 17 | Eels | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -123 | 2 |
